Damping means



May R3; l94..

A. L w. wLLma/is 23241.33??

DAMPING MEANS 2 SmsatsMShM-st l i.

Filati Nov. M, TIS-5% 'MINI @Win11 @y .ffm

T few/ ver A i.. w. wmmm mm.

DAM? IG HEME fr 2 m 8 G 4 FREQUENCY CYCLES PEF? SECOND rrofP/Vfy Patented May 13, 1941 DAMIING MEANS Alfred L. W. Williams, Cleveland Heights, and v Joseph J. Nef, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to The Brush Development Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of- Ohio Application November 14,1938, Serial No. 1240.260l

(Cl. 188l) 1o claims.

This invention relates to vibratory devices and more particularly to means for damping the vibrations of the moving'parts of such' devices.

An object of this invention 'is to provide improved selective damping means for vibrating devices, i. e., means which damp only vibrations o f certain frequencies without appreciably damping vibrations of other frequencies within the range of operation of the device.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved selective. damping means for vibratory devices the selective dmpin eifect of which isl readily adjustable.

Devices such as oscillograplis, phonographv record cutters, pickups, loud speakers. microphones and various machines have mechanisms which in operation partake of a vibratory motion such as a reciprocating motion or an oscillatory torsional vibration. In general these devices have, as a part of the vibrating system, an element which has in part the properties of a spring and which returns the` vibratory systemto its normal position upon removal of an actuating force.

In these devices it often happens that the restoring force of such spring element and the in- United States Patent 1,905,723 to Landsman shows a block or bar of reclaimed rubber sup'- ported and torsionally vibrated by a phonograph mechanism. 'Ihis arrangement providesselective damping, i. e., only at certain fre-i quencies, and this is a very desirable characteristic in certain designs of vibratory devices. An-

y other example of selective damping means is the phonograph pickup of .E C. Harrison, No.

2,o31,94s, having a disc of'damping material carried by the reciprocating stylus member. It has been found that in some vibratory devices such as, for example'the direct ink recording piezo-electric osciilograph\disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,149,216, granted February 28, 1939,

to Charles K. Gravley, damping means atv present known to the art are Vnot entirely satisfactory. For example, in the above mentioned device a short bar o f damping material has been secured to the torsional member and to the frame to absorb energy from the system. 'I'his arrangement reduces the sensitivity of the device at low frequency where no damping is required and only ertia of the vibrating parts react to produce undesirable resonance eilecta 'Ihe response of such devicesto steadv state sinusoidal vibratory forces is generally greater near the frequency of mechanical resonance than at other frequencies and the response of such devices `to transient impulses is often far from faithful. These eects are usually undesirable. For example. in'acoustic devices they give risel to distortion ofthe reproduced sounds. In` devices suchv as oscillographs they result in falsel records of the applied electrical waves and transient impulses. To reduce or eliminate these effects, damping means -are usually employed'. 4

Various damping means for vibratory devices are well known to the art. For example, United states Patent 1,663,884 to H. c. Harrison shows u a long rubber tube coupled to the stylus mechanism of a phonograph device so as to be torsionally vibrated thereby. The rubber tube absorbs sufllcient energy from the vibrating system to reduce the effects of the above mentioned resonance conditions. United- States Patent 1,678,116 to H. C. Harrison shows a loaded and damped bar or rod coupled to various vibrating devices for damping purposes. Both of the above systems are designed to absorb energy over a wide range of frequencies, i. e., are non-selective, and

this is a desirable characteristic in many devices.

partially suppresses the resonance effects. Other damping arrangements. including some-of the known selective systems, have also been `found unsuitable.

It is our discovery that the damping charac# teristics of a tuned damping unit may be adtov tuned damping units in whlchthe damping vantageously altered by coupling to the unit vibration dissipating means whichare adapted to absorb and dissipate energy from the unit and which preferably comprises anl'additional body of damping material either with or without 'other modifying elements. This principle is applicable material is vlbratorily twisted, bent, compressed or otherwise distorted. v The additional body of T damping material may be coupled thereto so as to be subjected to the same type o'f vibratory dis- `iortion as occurs in the tuned unit or so as to be subiected to any other suitable type of distortion. By incorporating a plurality of elements in a tuned damping device, the designer has greater latitude in adjusting the device to meet various conditions. The effectiveness of the bodies of damping material may be adjusted by varying their dimensionsl and compositions and the type of distortion to which each is subjected. When additional mass elements are employed their inertia effects may also be varied. Y

In the preferred form of the present invention Y,

a bar or rod of suitable damping material such as reclaimedrubber, synthetic rubber, or other rubber like material is coupled to the vibratory means, and when damped with the device in a manner to be subjected to torsional vibrations. Adjustably supported along the bar or rod are a plurality of masses in the form of discs or plates. The stiffness andl damping effect of the rod together with 'the various masses are so proportioned that the vibratory System isy damped only at certain frequencies. The magnitude ofthe damping effect and the frequency minating in a glass pen' point I I is secured to the spindle. Due to the slight difference in' the length of the radii of surfaces 1a and 1b. a slight endwise motion of 4drive member 4 in response to an applied electromotive force between terminals, 8 results in 'a relatively large angularv motion of the spindle 1. This angular motion I causes a large motion of the pen point II.

of maximum damping are adjustable within limits by adjusting the positions o f the masses on the rod. Such a device consists of a plurality l of damping units energized in sequence and interacting upon each other and upon the vibratory system to effect selective damping of- .the latter. The first section of the damping bar and the first disc or plate coact to form a primary tuned damp' vemployed for selective damping of other kinds of vibratory motion, such as reciprocating motion.

The invention will now be described with referl ence to the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a piezo-electric oscillograph device embodying the damping means of this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device of Fig. 1, taken along line 2, 2. Y

3 is a plan'view of the device of Fig. l.

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional views taken along lines 4, 4 and 5, 5 respectively of Fig. 1.

Figs. 6 and 'lare enlarged sectiona1views taken on the planes indicated by the lines 8 and l respectively of Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 8 is an enlarged schematic representation vof the various elements involved in thedevice 'cf Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Y

Fig. 9 is a graphical representation of the frejquency response of the assembly of Fig. 8 when undamped, when damped with prior damping improved means of this invention. v

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of a modifled structure of the damping f unit, and shows the use of lengths of composite damping material between successive masses.

'Ihe device shown in the drawings is merely an illustration of one successful application of the damping means of this invention, and should not be considered vin a limiting sense since the damping means are capable of general use in systems which involve vibratory motion. Re-

ferringl now to Figs.- 1 through 8, the device comprises a piezo-electric crystal unit I supported in a metal housing composed of. a box V2 and a cover plate 3. The crystal unit I is connected at one corner by a drive member 4 to a motion converting mechanism 5. An alternatingpotential applied between terminals 8, 6 causes endwise displacement of drive member 4 which is transmitted to the motion converting mechanism. The spindle 1 has two curved surl faces 1a, 1a of one radius and another curved surfacev 1b of slightlylarger radius. Itis operatively supported by -exible;tension members Il, 8 so that it may roll back and forth a small Vdistance along the plane defined by members 8, 8

as shown moreclearly in Fig. 6. A similar ilexible tension membery 9 is frictionally mounted on the curvedsurface 1b and connected to the drive member 4.' A long hollow tube I0 ter- In operation a stripl of paper is arranged to .move under the pen. point and ink is fed to the pen through a-flexibletube I2. The pen point traces a graph on the moving strip of paper of the electrical waves applied between the terminals'. For a detailed description of the operation of this device. referencel may' be. made to United States Patent N0. 2,149,216 of Charles K.` Gravley.

lDue to the stiffness of the crystal unit I and the inertia ofthe vibratory members, the system displays the resonance eifects'previously mentioned. In the device shown in the above mentioned Gravley patent, these effects are reduced by a bar of damping material secured to the frame and to the spindle in the/manner to be vibratorily twisted by the motion of the spindle. In the present device this barils replaced by a damping mechanism similar to that shown generally at I5 in Figs. 1 and r2. It comprises a their positions may be readily adjusted by ap-y plication of a little force.

'Ihe oscillatory motion of the spindle 'I is' transmitted to the damping mechanism which oscillates substantially as a whole at low frequencies. At higher frequencies l the inertia of the discs Il, I8 and I9 causes exing of the bar I6 in various amounts with a consequent absorption or dissipation of energy.

A clamp 2l!l holds the bottom. end of the ba'r I6 to prevent its displacement` when the device is carried or shipped, or when the device is operated with the damping mechanism in a horizontal position. The clamp may, if desired,. be

placed at a sufiicient distance from the discs so that it will have little or no effect on the operation of the mechanism.

As is pointed out in the above mentioned` Gravley patent, the spindle 1 does not oscillate about a xed axis but instead partakes of a back and forth rolling motion. This motion is made up of two components; one is an oscilla- 'tion about the center of curvature of the spindle and the other is' a motionof translation parallel to the plane on which the spindle rolls. vHowever, for most purposes, the spindle may be considered to have a torsional motion about an effective axis de ned by the line of tangency be- -tween the tensioned. supporting members 8, 8

back' and forth'motion of the efiective axis of torsion as thespindle partakes of its oscillatory rolling motion. V

' The elements which make up the essential operating structure of this device are shown schematically and enlarged in Fig. 8, and through reference to this ngure it will be possible to explain the operation more clearly.

It will be understood that in operation the arm I will swing to and fro on application of alternating voltages to the crystal unit, and the amplitude of motion will more or less faithfully follow the applied voltage. Due to the presence of spring and mass elements as ex-- plained above, the system will, with the damping mechanism omitted, vibrate more readily at 'one certain frequency than at other frequencies.

If the actuating force is suddenly removed when the System is displaced from'its normal position, the crystal unit I will return the system to its normal position but the kine removal of an actuating force is unde able, as is also theabove mentioned tendency to vibrate with greater ease at one particular frequency.

To prevent the above effects this invention provides the damping mechanism already described and indicated in its entirety by the numeral I5.

ness raises the frequency at which maximum damping occurs. The amount of damping obtained depends on the nature of the material.

After the optimum damping -effect hasbeen obtained by this means, if thel damping bar were to be cut olf directly below disc I1.the damp- Y ing device would then consistof a single tuned damping unit having many of the characteristics of the prior lart' damping units referred to above.

We have found by experience that it -is often ,diiilcult to obtain exactly the right amount of damping with a damping unit such as last referred to and made up of a bar and single disc of convenient size. It often happens that proper Now in operation when the .moving parts of l the vibratory device are vibrating at low frequencies the bar I6 is vibratorily twisted but due to its length the 7twist per unit of length is very small and a negligible amount of energy isabsorbed from the system. If desired, the bottom end of the bar may be unsupported and in this case the entire damping mechanism oscillates as a whole at lowfrequencies without twisting of the lbar I6. At these low frequencies the masses I1, Il and I! oscillate with the bar andthe complete damping mechanism I5 acts substantially as an additional mass. At somewhat higher frequencies the inertias oi the masses I1, Il and Il react to-cause flexing of the bar I6 with resultant absorptionof lenergy fromthe vibrating system. In some cases it has been observed that at `least the nrst mass. I1, oscillates vigorously atone frequency and out of phase with the spindle 1, causing a large angular ilexing of the bar Ila between mass I1 and the spindle. By properly proportioning the sections Ita, IGb, and Ic ofthe bar Il and discs I1, I8 and I8?, the combination Vmay, if desired, be made tol absorb a maximum amount of energy Aat the resonant frequency of the devlce'and thus reduce or eliminate the tendency in the latter toward free oscillations and accentuated response.-

The ldetermination of the correct proportions for the damping mechanism may readily he accomplished by trial and error methods guided tuning of the single disc system results in reduction of response at the original resonant irequency and the introductionof two new frequencies of maximum response, one above and invention comprise further damping or energy dissipating material arranged to be distorted by the disc i1. This additionarlrnaterial may or may not be loaded by additional discs.

It appears that the additional damping material modies the vibrations of the original damping unit in a manner to broaden the frequency Aversus damping characteristic of that section.

We have found that for damping the oscillograph device illustrated, the tuned damping unit provided by the first disc and the portion Ita of bar I8 should preferably be coupled to a plurality of modifying elements comprising addi` tional portions lib and I'Bc of vibration dissipat-l ing bar IB carrying spaced discs I8 and Iii.A The characteristics of the modifying elements may be adjusted by trial and error in a manner similar to that described above after suitable proportions have been found for the main or pri.-

mary unit. It will be noted that the device of Fig. 8 is not merely a plurality of tuned damping units coupled to the vibratory device but rather is a combination of damping umts, each one arranged to modify the performance of an adjacent unit. When the bar I6 is ysupported at its lower end by a clamp, as in Figs. 1 and 3;

the section-of bar I8 between clamp 20 and mass I9 serves to modify the performance of the ser tions above to an extent depending on the spacing of clamp 2li from mass I9. The modifying eiiect of one unit on the other is a distinguishi ing characteristic of our devices and accompanies by n knowledge of the fundamental nechnnics involved. It is convenient to start with a rather long bar,- I8, of damping material and one disc, I1.. The disc is moved along the length of the bar until maximum reduction of the' resonant response of the device is obtained. Then discs be kept in mind that substituting a disc I1 of greatermoment of inertia and/or increasing the rial but of lgreater cross section raises the frequency of maximumdamping. For any given bar dimensions. vsubstituting material of greater stiib.

the use in the devices of adjacent elements which are dissimilar. This will be understood more fully throughvreference to Fig. 8. "I'here, the malnunitconsisting of disc I1 and portion Ila of bar I6, and the auxiliary unit consisting of disc Il and the portion lib of bar I8 may be considered as two separate units which are physically coupled together' at an interface lying in the plane of the lower face of disc I1. of the units at the point of coupling are the disc I1vand the portion I6b of bar I8, and it will be noted that these adjacent elements are dissimilar both physically and functionally, the disc being an inertia element while the bar is predominantly an energy dissipating element.

To illustrate further the action of the ldamping means, the damping effects of the unit thus Adjacent elements composed of bar It and l1. Il and Il are shown graphically-in 111g. 9.- The curves there included illustrate the amplitudeof motion of the pen I I produced whena sinusoidal voltage of constant amplitude and variable frequency is applied to the crystal unit I. The device for which these -curves were plotted was proportionedasshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and was scaled on the basis of box 2 being approximately 33/4 inches square. Curve 2| illustrates the response of the v pen device described/above when the damping means are disconnected. Curve 22 represents the response when a short clamped bar of damping material is connected to the spindle, the dimensions ofthe bar being approximately those shown in the Gravley Patent No. 2,149,216. Curve 23 shows the response of the pen device with the damping means of this invention, proportioned substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,`sub`sti l tuted for the damping bar of curve 22. The device for which this curve was plotted had discs i1, Il and I9 of steel and bar i6 of polymer-ized vinylchloride of the type currently known as Koroseal.

. It will be seen from curve 2i that the crystal unit I drives the motion converting mechanism I 'and' pen I0 with substantially uniform amplitude at the lower frequencies. The peak in the ductionof a clamped bar of damping material is shown by curve 22. to materially reduce vthe response at the resonant frequency and also to reduce it at all other frequencies. Reductiom of the resonance response is, of course, desirable, but reduction at' other frequencies is undesirable since` the sensitivity is thereby lowered. Moreover, it will be obvious that even if a reduction in sensitivity is'tolerated, the response at 'the .resonant frequency is still so much greater than elsewhere that serious distortion occurs in the records obtained from the device.

However, when the damping device of this inj vention is employed.' it will be seen from curve 2l that practically uniform response is obtained .over the whole range of frequencies, and furthermore, that sensitivity in the lower frequencies remains practically undiminished. damping device accordingly is frequency-selective; that is, it'may be adjusted to damp (reduce the lamplitude of) only vibrations of .certain frequencies without kappreciablydamping 'vibrations of lower frequencies. Satisfactory transient response of the device is obtained when by-reproportioning'the constants of the unit lio/654V correspond withthose required in the other device. due consideration being taken of the'elasticity of the damping materiaLits internal fric response curve at the higher frequencies is'due toA mechanical resonance in the system. lIntron may be niaaof separate bodies or homogeneous damping material or of bodies of composite damping material. In addition, differentl dampingmaterials or combinations of material may be inserted between successive masses. Fig. l0 illltrates a few of the numerous variations of structure which may be made in accordance with the principles of our invention, and shows a mass 24 provided with hubs 25 and 26 on opposite sides thereof surrounding a central Aopening 21 into which sections of damping material may 'I be inserted. The section of the damping mem-v ber inserted in hub 25 is composed of three layers of material, two layers 29, 29 being of the lsame composition, while layer 30 is of a diierent composition. These layers may be cemented together 0l' Otherwise Secured into a Substantially integral Vmass, or they may merely be held to gether at vtheir ends by pin 28. The damping member inserted in hub 26 is composed of two layers 3| and 32 of different compositions. In addition to the foregoing modications, various alternative structures of mass 2l will also occur to those skilled in the art; the structure shown in Fig. 10 is intended to illustrate only one of the many modifications which can be used.

It hasbeen pointed out above that the vibrations of spindle 1 are not strictly torsional, due

to its-combined translational and oscillatory motions. Since it is not necessary that the axis of torsion remain stationary in order to obtain the lresults described above, the term torsional vibration as used in the claims .is intended to include vibrations which are not strictly torsional, the only requirement being that the bar of damping material be so arranged 'that torsional oscillations may be induced in the bar. Furthermore,

' it is intended that the terms oscillation," tor- TheI gated body and secured thereto to vibrate .therewith, the inertias of said masses, their spacing from each other and from said endl of said elonsional oscillation and torsional vibration be regarded as synonymous. When the term vibration is used alone, it is intended.to be generic to all types of vibrations.

f Having now disclosed the invention. what. we

claim is:

l. A frequency-Selective damping device adapted to damp the vibrations of a system which includes a member oscillating substantially aboutv an-axis, which device comprises -an elongated body of elastic damping material disposed substantially in axial alignment with said oscillating member and adapted to have'one of its ends torsionally vibrated thereby, and a plurality of masses disposed along .the length of said elongated body, the damping properties of said damp-l ing material andits elasticiw being mutually adapted to produce the desired frequency-se, lective characteristics whereby vibrations at some frequencies may be while vibrations at lower frequencies remain. lsubstantially undamped.

2; A frequency-selective damping device adapt'- ed to absorb energy selectively from avvibrating system which includes a member oscillating substantially about an axis. which device comprises tion or damping properties, the inertia effects of the masses, and their spacing upon the bar y of damping material. While discs are'shown in the drawings, it giu be evident that other oohl flgurations may be. used without altering the und o results which may he obtained. Furthery more,l the variimsl sectionsof the dampins from said member to be varied to alter the mag an elongated body of elastic vibration dissipating material adapted to be torsionally distorted l by said oscillating member, said body being pro.- vided with a plurality of masses'distributed along its length and adjustably secured thereto to vibrate therewith, said adjustability permitting thespacing of said masses from each other andY Aceive and dissipate the excess energy of a torsionally' vibrating member, said device comprising an elongated body of elastic damping mate` rial having a plurality of masses spaced along itsv length, said body beingl suspended from said vibrating member, and'adapted to be torsionally distorted thereby. l i l 5. 1n combination, a vibrating system having a member which oscillates substantially about an axis, and damping means cooperating therewith to damp vibrations at some frequencies without materially damping vibrations at lower frequencies, said damping means comprising arr elongated body of elastic damping material having a plurality of masses distributed along its' length, said body, being adapted to be torsionally distorted by said oscillating member. 6. In a piezo-electric device, a vibratory motion-converting device adapted to be actuated by a piezo-electric unit 'and frequency-selective damping means adapted to be torsionally distorted by said converting device, said damping means comprising an elongated body of elastic vibration dissipating material having a plurality of masses distributed along its length. 7. The method of tuning al selective damping unit comprising an elongated body o! vibration dissipating material, vwhich method comprises the steps of vibrating said elongated body at a desired frequency .by means of a vibrating member coupled to one'end -of said body, positioning a'flrst mass between the ends of said elongated body, a usting the position oi said mass with respect the coupled end of v said elongated body to cause maximum absorp-v tion of vibratory energy in the portion of id body included therebetween. positioning a sec nd mass on said elongated body with said rstmass between it and said vibrating member. and adiusting the position of said second mass with respect to the first thereby to obtain va desired modiiication of the damping eiect of the nrst mentioned portion ot said elongated body.

8. A selective damping device comprising the from, mid means being energized solely by thesaid tuned unit. f Y

9. A selective damping device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said vibration dissipating means Ainclude elastic vibration dissipatins material.

10. A selective damping device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said vibration dissipating means .include vibration dissi'patinfmaterial having .y

rigid mass coupled theretoltovibrate therewith.

JosnPrr ,1. Ninn".v 

